Written by Justin Velgus

Donating Blood in Sendai, Miyagi

“What large veins you have!” the vampire nurses giggled in delight.

Justin Velgus giving blood in Sendai

Hi, I’m Justin. Although I have lived in Japan for a total of 8 years, very much still mystifies me how things are done in this country. At the same time, people tell me my Japanese is “totemo jozu!” when the reality is more like “maa maa.” In fact, perhaps the only “senpai status” claim to fame I can make is I am a regular blood donator. The other day was my 27^th time donating blood in Japan, but I also regularly donated in the USA before that. If you are interested in donating blood in Japan, particularly in Sendai (Miyagi Pref.), this thorough (read: long) guide will tell you what to expect during the process and experience.

 Who is eligible to donate blood in Japan?

・Residents of Japan (Foreigners with a residence card are OK!)

・Age: 16 to 69 years old.

・Minimum Weight: 40kg for women, 45kg for men.

・Understand Japanese (it doesn’t need to be perfect!).

Not everyone can donate:

If you have/had certain medical conditions or diseases, allergies, or lived in the UK for more than six months from 1980 to 1997 (there was an outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy “mad cow disease” and the disease has an unknown incubation period), or are a male, and had intercourse with another male, you will generally not be allowed to donate.

You could also be turned away from donating on the day if you have traveled overseas within a month, have a fever or cold, currently taking some types of medicine, had a recent surgery or tattoo, have alcohol in your system, or your blood is low on something like iron. If you are unsure or want to confirm, you can visit to consult with the staff.

Resource (Japanese): http://www.jrc.or.jp/donation/about/terms/

How much blood do they take?

There are actually three options for donating:

1. Whole Blood (全血 zenketsu)
2. Platelet (血小板 kesshoban)
3. Plasma (血漿kesshō)

Whole blood can be donated in 200ml or 400ml amount. It will take just 8 to 10 minutes to draw the blood then you can donate again in about 2.5 months or so. Whole blood is often used for trauma patients and those in surgery. From start to finish, expect to spend up to 1.5 hours at the blood center.

“Platelets are tiny cells in your blood that form clots and stop bleeding.” The process is the same as whole blood, but you are sitting in the donation chair for about 50 minutes as an apheresis machine collects your platelets, but your red blood cells and most of your plasma is returned. Platelets are needed for patients facing serious illnesses or injuries. You’ll be able to donate again in about 2 weeks. From start to finish, expect to spend 2.5 to 3 hours at the blood center. I am a regular platelet donor.

The plasma process is similar to the platelet, but plasma is taken instead of platelets. Only the rare AB blood types are ideal for plasma donations. Since AB plasma is considered a universal plasma (can be given to anyone) used to treat trauma and emergency room patients, it is always in high demand.

Learn more about blood types and donating process in English here.

Note that some information, such as Power Red donation and the shorter frequency cycle of donations (Americans are bigger so can donate more often they say), are different in Japan.

The view from AER blood donation center in Sendai, Miyagi

What’s the process like?

This English FAQ answers most of your specific questions: redcrossblood.org

Here are the basics:

Step inside the blood center, no reservation needed, and tell a staff member if it is your first time. Before anything gets going, you’ll need to put your arm in one of the machines by the entrance to check your blood pressure and heart rate. Take the paper receipt that prints out and show the staff when they call you for your initial registration. You’ll also be given a paper bracelet with your number for the day and a barcode that is scanned throughout the process. Then you will do an interview questionnaire that is filled out on a touch tablet.

After that, you’ll go into a doctor’s office for about one minute as they ask you some questions from your interview, such as confirming you don’t take medicines. At the next station, (you will stand up and sit down a lot, so listen for your bracelet number!), have some blood drawn and tested to make sure you are eligible to donate that day. They are checking for things like iron in your blood. If you rest and eat well before, usually you are OK.

Eventually, you’ll be called to do the actual donation which involves laying on a reclined chair in front of a TV. I can’t stand most Japanese TV, so I turn it off immediately and listen to podcasts and send emails. Keep in mind that your donating arm is immobilized, so things such as reading a book or magazine is tricky when turning the pages with one hand.

For 15 minutes or so after you are done donating, and during the process while you are waiting to be called, you can hang out in the lounge. Browse magazines or newspapers, watch TV, play on your phone, etc. You can munch on cheap rice crackers and chocolates or indulge in the free soft drink vending machines offering coffee, tea, sports drinks, etc. I recommend the salty caramel coffee and strawberry milk drink.

Piri-Piri

When you visit the lounge after donating, a staff member gives you contact information in case you feel sick within a few days. More importantly, you’ll be given some special thank-you gift like kitchen plastic wrap or cheap, but slightly more expensive, snacks to bring home. If you are lucky, you can get promotional goods from a sponsoring company, such as some matcha green tea Kit Kat!

Probably the biggest challenge of the day is that everything is in Japanese. Daily conversation is enough to answer questions such as “When did you last eat?” “How many hours did you sleep?” and, “Do you feel any tingling (“piri-piri”) sensation in your fingers?” after they inject the needle.

Questions about your medical history, allergies, travel history, etc. are filled out on a computer tablet during the questionnaire. Some of the kanji characters are muzukashii, but as long as you make notes of the Japanese terms that relate to your medical situation, you should be fine—it is all multiple choice: yes or no. For healthy individuals that don’t have any medical conditions or take medicine, nearly all the answers will be no.

It is probably best to go with someone that has donated or a Japanese friend your first time to get used to everything. Also, starting with a whole blood donation is usually recommended. Both the blood centers in Sendai have friendly staff that are very happy to have foreigners donate, they just require the donor to understand Japanese for safety reasons.

After donating, make sure to hydrate throughout the day, and don’t do heavy exercise or drink alcohol. It is best to use public transportation or walk home after donating.

“What’s in it for me?”~The benefits of donating

In Japan, blood can be donated on a voluntary basis (no monetary reward) at the Japanese Red Cross Society blood donation centers. Blood is primarily used in blood transfusions to save countless lives (well, actually about 1.2 million) across the country each year, so do donate if you can! 

If saving lives was not enough motivation, you can also enjoy an all-you-can snack/drink party, feel good for helping the community (and boasting about it on your social media!), and showing the foreign community in a good light. More positive news for foreigners is always needed!

This being Japan, there is also a points card. It is actually just your Red Cross card they give you when you first visit, but the points only come into play when you register it online (It is also in Japanese, but easy to navigate). Go a few times to the blood center and you can rack up points for bonus gifts like dishwashing soap or Red Cross character goods, like a small towel. Keep at it and the prizes get better—like a towel with a different design! Registering is worth it, even without the points scheme. The points card allows super simple online appointment reservation, sends email reminders of appointments and also keeps track of previous appointment blood stats so you can monitor that if you are really into your health.

Where can I donate in Sendai?

There are two blood donation centers in Miyagi, both in central Sendai. I included my personal opinions about each. Since I donate often, I usually rotate between them.

• AER Building

Located on the 20th floor of the AER building next to Sendai Station.

〒980-6120  仙台市青葉区中央 1-3-1　アエル 20階

Open daily 9:30-17:00 

PROS: Convenient location next to Sendai Station, great view when donating and in lounge, vending machine also offers

hot soup (corn/onion).

CONS: Crowded and a little noisy with announcements on weekends, bathroom is outside center in hallway.

• AOBA ROOM

  Located across from the Mitsukoshi department store on the 6th floor of the TIC building.

〒980-0811 宮城県仙台市青葉区一番町４丁目９−１８ TICビル

           Open daily 9:30-17:00 

PROS:  Less crowded overall, you get ice cream after donating, bathroom inside the facility,  kids’ room so you can bring

children, outside terrace attached to the lounge.

CONS: A lower variety of cheap snacks, awkward locker location, in the middle of the facility makes it inconvenient to

drop-off/pick-up bags.

*PRO/CON: While the AER blood donation center is in one giant room, the AOBA center is split up between several connecting rooms. This is good for reducing noise caused by announcements or chatter, but since you are moving often from room to room, it is hard to start a magazine or newspaper until you reach the lounge. However, constant moving makes the whole process feel like it is going faster.

You can go to the blood donation centers in Sendai with a friend.

Not everyone is eligible to donate blood, but those who can should! Why not go with a friend? Let’s give back to the community and save lives together!